Marked Twice by the Alpha King Chapter 148

**Ava's POV**

After breakfast, I insisted on helping clear the table, but Ruth positioned herself like a wall between me and the dishes. "If I let the Alpha King's guest wash plates, I'll find myself on border patrol by tomorrow," she half-joked, but her eyes told me she was serious.

"I'm not some VIP," I protested, feeling a strange discomfort. "I can take care of myself."

Ruth's expression softened as she patted my shoulder. "I know you can, dear. But let us do our jobs, alright? It's respect, not belittlement."

I finally gave up the argument and asked if I could use mindlink to contact Ella. Ruth immediately directed me to a quiet corner of the garden where a comfortable bench offered a clear view of the distant mountains. "The energy field is particularly clear there," she explained. "Your mindlink transmission will be more stable."

Sitting on that bench, breathing in the fresh mountain air, I felt an unfamiliar sense of peace wash over me. Despite all the uncertainties still looming in my life—my father in prison, Sarah in Hayes territory—for this moment, in this safe harbor, I allowed myself to set those burdens aside temporarily.

I closed my eyes, focusing my mind to find that familiar connection—Ella's mindlink felt like warm sunshine, bright and steady.

"Ella?" I called tentatively, unsure if the distance would allow transmission.

Seconds later, her voice flooded my consciousness, filled with obvious shock and joy. "Ava! Holy crap, you're alive! I thought the Hayes family had chopped you up and fed you to the wolves!"

I couldn't help laughing out loud at her typical Ella-style exaggeration. "Pretty close," I responded, "but I made it out. There's so much to tell you—too complicated for mindlink."

"Tell me where to meet you and I'll be there," she answered without hesitation, her instant loyalty warming my heart.

I suggested the rooftop garden at Moonlight Lodge—a neutral zone where wolves from any pack could freely gather. She agreed, promising to arrive within two hours.

After disconnecting, I felt a long-absent sense of anticipation. Ella was my anchor to my past—no matter how the world changed, she remained the friend who always spoke her mind, never altering her attitude based on my status or circumstances.

The rooftop garden at Moonlight Lodge occupied the building's top floor, surrounded by transparent glass walls that offered visitors spectacular views in every direction. As I stepped into this sky garden, the familiar scents of herbs and fresh flowers immediately transported me back to countless afternoons Ella and I had spent here during our academy days.

I chose a spot in the corner, my back against a massive potted silver pine. This position gave me a view of the entire entrance and other visitors while remaining discreet enough to avoid unnecessary attention.

Ella arrived ten minutes early, her deep brown short hair gleaming in the sunlight. She spotted me immediately, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile before she practically flew across the garden, nearly tackling me with her hug.

"You really are alive!" She squeezed me until I could barely breathe, then stepped back to look me up and down. "And looking way better! God, the last time I saw you at Hayes territory, you looked like you'd just crawled out of a grave."

"Thanks for the compliment," I replied with a dry laugh, not really minding her bluntness. This was Ella's way—unfiltered, unvarnished.

We sat at a quiet table and ordered two cups of lavender tea—our tradition from student days. Ella's eyes never left my face, as if afraid I might suddenly disappear.

"So," she finally spoke, her fingers nervously tapping the table, "tell me what happened. One day you're in that disgusting Hayes barracks, the next you vanish and my mindlink hits a stone wall."

I took a deep breath, considering where to begin. Eventually, I decided to rip off the bandage directly. "I'm living with Blake Morgan now," I said, watching her reaction. "At his northern cabin, deep in Silverpeak territory."

Ella's jaw practically hit the table, her eyes widening like two full moons. 

"Blake Morgan?" she whispered, unable to hide her shock. "THE Blake Morgan? The Alpha King? The most powerful Alpha in the entire werewolf world?"

I nodded, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

"How did you... when did... what happened?" she stumbled over her words, something extremely rare for usually eloquent Ella.

"It's a long story," I sighed, then launched into the explanation—from Lucas's training accident, to my forced departure from Blackwood, through my nightmare experience at Hayes territory, and finally how Blake appeared and took me away. 

I deliberately skipped over the more intimate details between us, but judging by Ella's sharp gaze, she guessed everything.

"So he marked you," she pointed out, her eyes falling on my neck where Jackson's silver had almost completely transformed to gold. "Jackson's silver is nearly gone."

I unconsciously reached up to touch the mark, nodding. "That's how things developed."

Ella leaned back in her chair, letting out a long whistle. "Damn, Ava Rivers. From one to-be Alpha's bed to another, and definitely an upgrade. If Serena Evans finds out, she'll shift out of pure rage."

"Don't say it like that," I frowned, disliking that characterization. "It's not... I'm not..."

"Hey," she immediately turned serious, reaching across to grip my hand. "I'm just joking. I know you better than anyone, remember? I know you're not that kind of person." 

She paused, concern flashing in her eyes. "But seriously, Ava, are you sure this is what you want? Blake Morgan isn't just any Alpha... he's the leader of the entire werewolf world. Being with him means forever living in the spotlight."

I hadn't thought about it that deeply, which left me momentarily speechless. 

"I don't know what this is," I finally admitted. "Maybe it's just a temporary arrangement. But he's... different from other Alphas. He respects my decisions, gives me freedom. And he's promised to investigate my father's case."

Ella's expression softened. "You've fallen for him, haven't you?"

"What? No!" My response came too quickly, too loudly, drawing glances from several customers. 

I lowered my voice, "We're just... helping each other. He needs Lucas's trainer, I need a safe place to stay and someone to help my father."

"Uh-huh," Ella raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "That explains why you blush every time you mention him, and why that mark on your neck is practically glowing?"

I glared at her, but couldn't really argue. Truthfully, I wasn't sure what my feelings for Blake were. I only knew that when I was with him, I felt a sense of safety and understanding I'd never experienced before. But was that love? Or just dependency on his power and protection?

"I just... don't know, Ella," I finally admitted, my voice barely audible. "Everything happened so fast. One minute I'm a prisoner of the Hayes family, the next I'm living in the Alpha King's private territory. I haven't even had time to think about what it means."